Motorola Adds Phones For Big 3 Carriers

New phones launched by Motorola here at the recent CTIA convention included the latest version of the Q phone for Verizon Wireless, an EV-DO Rev. A phone with Qualcomm's QChat push-to-talk (PTT) technology for Sprint's CDMA network, and a phone that offers turn-by-turn driving instructions on the AT&T network.

The new Q phone, the Q9c with QWERTY keyboard, is a CDMA 1x EV-DO model available through Verizon Wireless for $149 or $249 depending on service plan. It will also be sold through Alltel and U.S. Cellular in the summer. As the latest iteration of the company's Windows Mobile Smartphone-based Q series, the Q9c is Motorola's first Q phone with GPS and turn-by-turn driving instructions. It's also Verizon's third smartphone with turn-by-turn driving instructions, joining Verizon's BlackBerry Pearl and the BlackBerry 8830, which offers a navigation application as a downloadable upgrade. Verizon's fourth navigation-equipped smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 8330, will be available in May.

The V950a, also a CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev. A phone, features Qualcomm's QChat technology for sub-second PTT service over Sprint's Nextel Direct Connect push-to-talk service. The CDMA-network PTT service interoperates with Sprint's iDEN-network PTT phones. The ruggedized high-end flip phone with rubber exterior, membrane keypad and external music controls meets military specs for resisting shock, vibration, blowing rain and fog, a spokeswoman said. It's due in mid- to late summer.

For AT&T, Motorola served up the Z9 slider, a quadband GSM/EDGE, dual-band 850/1,900MHz HSDPA phone with 2.4-inch screen, microSD slot, stereo Bluetooth, 2-megapixel camera and the ability to download unprotected music over the air from eMusic. It also supports side-loaded subscription downloads from Napster To Go.

It supports AT&T Video Share service, which enables one-way streaming of live video, in the 265 markets in which the network offers high speed downlink packet access service. Currently enabling download speeds of 600kbps to 1,400kbps, AT&T said. By the end of 2008, AT&T plans to offer the service in more than 350 major markets, including all of the top 100 markets. AT the end of 2007, the service was available in 89 of the top 100 markets.